Lake Karapiro

Waikato & the Coromandel Peninsula


Eight kilometres southeast of Cambridge, Lake Karapiro is the furthest downstream of a chain of eight hydroelectric power stations on the Waikato River. It’s an impressive sight, especially when driving across the top of the 1947 dam. The 21km-long lake is also a world-class rowing venue.


Lonely Planet's must-see attractions

Nearby Waikato & the Coromandel Peninsula attractions

1. Cambridge Museum

4.45 MILES

In a former courthouse, the quirky Cambridge Museum has plenty of pioneer relics, a military history room and a range of local history displays.

2. Jubilee Gardens

4.73 MILES

Apart from its Spanish Mission town clock, Jubilee Gardens is a wholehearted tribute to the ‘mother country'. A British lion guards the cenotaph, with a…

3. Hobbiton Movie Set Tours

8.56 MILES

Due to copyright, all the movie sets around NZ were dismantled after the filming of The Lord of the Rings, but Hobbiton’s owners negotiated to keep their…

4. Sanctuary Mountain Maungatautari

8.77 MILES

A community trust has erected 47km of pest-proof fencing around the triple peaks of Maungatautari (797m) to create the impressive Sanctuary Mountain…

5. St Paul’s Church

10.74 MILES

All that remains of Rangiaowhia is the cute 1854 Anglican St Paul’s Church and the Catholic mission’s cemetery, standing in the midst of rich farming land…

6. Rangiaowhia

10.74 MILES

Before the Waikato invasion, Rangiaowhia (5km east of Te Awamutu on Rangiaowhia Rd; ask at the i-SITE for directions) was a thriving Māori farming town,…

7. Rose Garden

12.85 MILES

The Rose Garden has 2500 bushes and 51 varieties with fabulously fruity names such as Lady Gay and Sexy Rexy. The roses usually bloom from November to May.

8. Te Awamutu Museum

13.16 MILES

Te Awamutu Museum has a superb collection of Māori taonga (treasures) and an excellent display on the Waikato War. The highlight is the revered Te Uenuku …

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